the people bin vnthankfull they shoulde ere that time haue beene conueyed into the lande of promise and then had Moses gone in with them But his life was prolonged a great time because of the leawdnes of the people Heere we see a wonderfull goodnes in God For seeing that the people that is to wit as many of them as were then of discretion to knowe good from euill were condemned to die in the wildernesse it had beene a great discomfort to them if Moses should haue dyed out of hand 〈◊〉 14.23 But God reserueth him and although he chastise the people yet notwithstanding hee moderateth his rigour Heere then we see in effect that when God tolde the people that they should die in the wildernesse hee meant not to punish them with such extremitie but that hee prouided them first of y e principall point which was y t they might haue a good loadesman For that is an inestimable treasure And againe we see howe God wrought in Moses by a power that was not common to men that is to wit that at the age of Sixscore yeeres there was in him still all that euer was requisite in so difficult and weightie a charge as wee knowe was committed vnto him True it is that he had Iudges with him Exod. 18.25 but yet for all that no one man no nor a doosen men had beene able to haue gone through with that charge though they had bin chosen of the excellentest men in the worlde Needs must it be thē that God aided him Now whereas in so old age men are wont to be drooping and halfe dead or at leastwise in such case as they can scarsly crawle and are halfe doted and yet Moses continueth still in his perfect state therein it appeareth that God had compassion of his people And this is expresly declared that the children of Israel shoulde knowe that God neuer forsooke them that although they had grieuously offended him and were worthy to be cut off from his house and to bee stripped out of his gratious giftes yet he ment not to vse such rigour for hee reserued Moses and gaue him wherwith to go through with his charge continually To be short in this text it is shewed vs that if God giue vs such men to bee our guides as behaue themselues faithfully and haue abilitie matched with their will and that they bee maintained to doe their office to the full it behoueth vs to perceiue therin that God hath pitie vppon vs and we must acknowledge such a benefite vnlesse we wil be condemned of vnthankfulnesse Nowe it is saide that the children of Israel mourned thirtie days for the death of Moses It was a common thing to make such sorrowe for the deade But forasmuch as Moses was a father to all the whole people it was verie requisite that not some one house or kinred but that all those which had beene gouerned by him shoulde weepe for him Euerie man is to be mourned for in his owne house by his kinsfolfe and neere friendes but there was another speciall reason in Moses because God had giuen him to all the people and he had guided them with a fatherly care as we knowe The people therefore doe witnesse openly howe much they were bounde and beholden vnto Moses and al of them shewe themselues as his children But here it might be demaunded whether it be lawfull to make such lamentation for a man that is departed for it shoulde seeme to bee an incountering of Gods will Wee knowe that the life and death of men is in Gods hande nowe if hee call vs away it behooueth vs to goe without any gainesaying as I saide yesterday They that outliue vs must not sorrowe for our death for it were a kinde of striuing against God But wee must euer haue an eye to the end of our sorrowing when wee mourne for the decease of men and againe we must come to the measure therof Those two things then must we obserue to the intent that our sorrowing may bee lawfull The first thing is that our mourning for a partie departed be vpon iust cause For we haue good occasion to weepe because death is a common lookingglasse and record vnto vs of Gods curse not vppon one or two folkes but vpon all mankinde When we see any man deade God sheweth vs to the vew of our eye that we be all of vs cursed of him and that wee be all of vs inclosed in that curse because of Adams sin For whence comes death but of the estraunging of vs from the fountaine and welspring of life God then giueth vs good occasion to weepe when any man dyeth but that must bee done because of our sinnes so aswe feele what we haue deserued and bee ashamed of our selues and bee touched with the feare of Gods vengeance and bee so wounded therewith as it may prouoke vs to make sorrowe But this ende is ill regarded welneere of all men For when wee weepe we wote not why wee weepe and scarsly shall yee finde one among a hundred which is mooued and stirred vp to acknowledge the punishment of sinne the curse of God which is spred ouer all the sonnes of Adam That then is the thing which we haue to remember in the first place There is another seconde ende That is to wit when God taketh away a man that was able to doe seruice in his Church either publikely or priuately wee ought to bee sorie for it forasmuch as our Lorde chastiseth vs. If there bee a good Sheepeherd a good Prince a good Magistrate a man of counsell or any other that is fitte to serue the whole bodie and God taketh him away we ought to bee sorie for him and not without cause for it is a signe that hee is minded to diminish his grace in vs. And ought wee not to bee grieued in feeling Gods wrath On the other side we see how it is said that our Lorde taketh away the righteous Esa. 57.1 when he hath any vengeance in a readinesse hee calleth away his seruaunts to rest that they may be free from the mischiefe which is at hande Therefore when God taketh away the excellent men from among vs it is alwayes a threatning vnto vs. For it is all one as if he told vs that wee bee not worthie to haue him to dwell in our companie according to this saying in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 11.38 that the worlde was not worthie to haue the men that serued God with such vertuous conuersation True it is that men mislike of them and thrust them out of their company as though they were not worthie to goe vppon the earth But yet on the contrarie part God telleth vs that we forgoe the company of the good men and of those whom hee hath reserued to himselfe Therefore when we bewaile the death of honest men which haue liued in the feare of God which were indewed with excellent vertues and gifts of grace
prepared a better inheritance for vs than this transitorie life when we see al these things must it not needes be that wee bee worse than blockish if we be not rauished with earnest affection to worship our God and to vowe and dedicate our selues wholly to him Yes but besides this wee must bethinke vs of all the good turnes which God hath done vs as well in general as in particular and then must we confesse with Dauid Lord when I thinke vpon thy benefites behold my wit is plundged as it were into a bottomlesse pit Psa. 40. â— yea they be moe in nomber thaÌ„ the haires of my head as it is said in the fortith Psalme Againe when wee haue acknowledged how much we be beholden to our God generally let vs also consider the benefites that euerie of vs haue receiued at Gods hand particularly And whereas it was saide to the people of Israel in olde time I brought thee out of the land of Egypt let vs consider whence our Lorde deliuered vs when he vouchsafed to admit vs into his household and Church Rom. â— 1 Eph. 2 3â— 1. Co. 1â— â— Act. 26. â—â— 2. Tim. â— â— For we be Adams childreÌ„ by nature cursed heires of death altogither sinnefull and consequently must needes be lothsome to our God Let men like of themselues and glorie of themselues as much as they list yet not withstanding this is their pedegree this is al their nobilitie namely y t they bee Satans bondslaues that they haue a sinke of sinne and corruption in them Eph. 2.11 4.18 and that they haue nothing but Gods wrath and curse hanging ouer their heads and to bee short that being banished from the kingdome of heauen they be deliuered vp to all mischiefe and woe But our Lord hath deliuered vs from these things by the hand of his sonne he hath not sent vs a Moses as he did to the people of olde time Rom. â— â—â— nay he hath not spared his onely sonne but hath deliuered him to death for vs. Seeing then that we be rauÌ„somed with so deare and inestimable a price 1. Pet. â—â—â— as is the holy bloud of the sonne of God ought wee not to giue our selues wholly vnto him Furthermore if Egypt were termed a house of bondage I praye you what is it when y e diuell holdeth vs in his bondes and vnder his tyrannie so as we haue no meanes to scape death but are shut out from all hope of saluation and God is vtterly against vs Seeing wee bee deliuered from all these things is it not a much more excellent deliuerance than that which Moses here speaketh of Yes and therefore whereas it was saide to the people of olde time thy GOD hath brought thee out of the lande of Egypt nowe it is sayde that we be not our owne as saieth Saint Paul in the fourteenth to the Romanes Ro. 14. â—â— 1. Cor. â—â— 24. and also in the seuenth of the first Epistle to the Corinthians Wee bee not our owne the faithfull must not take leaue to doe what they list nor to liue euerie man after his owne liking And why Bicause our Lorde Iesus Christ dyed and is risen againe to raigne both ouer quicke and dead Then is it good reason that Iesus Christ shoulde bee Lord of life and death seeing he spared not himselfe when our redemption saluation were to be wrought And moreouer besides that the sonne of God hath offered vp himselfe for redemption let vs vnderstand that he maketh vs partakers of that benefite at this day Eph. 1 1â— Eph. 1. â—â— by meanes of the Gospell For hee gathereth vs to him to the intent wee should bee of his flocke True it is that hee is the Lambe without spot which wypeth awaye the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 2. Tim. 1.9.10 Rom. 5.10 and 2. Cor. 5.19 and that he hath offered himselfe vp to reconcile men vnto God But yet for all that wee see a great nomber of people that are let alone against whome the gate is shut and GOD doeth not graunt them the grace to bee inlightened by faith as wee bee And therefore let vs marke well that seeing the Gospell is preached vnto vs and wee haue there a warrant that the sonne of God will make the redemption auailable in vs which he hath once wrought and cause vs to inioye the benefite thereof wee must learne that our thankelesnesse will bee the shamefuller if wee doe not our indeuour to giue our selues to our God who hath bounde vs to himselfe after that sorte If the vnbeleeuers play the loose Coltes and ouershoote themselues in their superstitions and in wantonnesse of life well it is bicause they haue no bridle he hath not reyned them backe as he doeth his housholde folke Wee see the horrible confusion that is in Poperie but yet there is not any doctrine to plucke men backe to God nay rather that doctrine which is there doeth drawe them quite and cleane from him And we see that the diuell hath gotteÌ„ such footing there that all is full of trumperie and illusions and the liuing God is quite forsaken And so ye see that there is a horrible confusion But as for our part seeing that God draweth vs to himselfe is it not a straiter bond to make vs to linke in throughly with him and to holde ourselues vnder obedience of the doctrine that is set foorth to vs in his name Yes and therefore let vs learne to sticke so to our God as wee may renounce all that euer wee can imagine of our owne head and let vs consider that it is not for vs to swarue one way or other any more or to be tossed too and fro in any wise assuring our selues that there is but onely one God who will possesse vs yea and possesse vs in such wise as his honour bee not taken from him and bestowed vppon creatures and that he watcheth ouer vs to the end wee should knowe that it is onely he on whom wee ought to call Psal. 11 6.9 and to whose grace we ought to repaire for succour And finally forasmuch as it is his will to haue and accept vs to bee of his houshold let vs walke as in his presence and in his sight and that in such wise as wee worshippe him as our onely God not onely with Ceremonies and outward protestation but also in our hearts as they that knowe that his seruice is spirituall and to be short let him possesse both our bodies and our soules that he may bee throughly glorified in all respectes Now let vs kneele downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs feele them better that it may leade vs to true repentance to be mortified more and more so as our wicked lustes may be cut off and we bee wholy giuen to feare and honour him that forasmuch as wee can not serue him throughly as he deserueth so long
and in the meane while God is let alone and his lawe is forgotten And therefore it is not to bee wondered at that hee hardeneth vs in such brutishnes and that there is so grosse ignorance in the world as fewe folke haue the true taste and sauor of the doctrine of saluation but rather wee see that all men despise it and are so farre off from hauing any affection and zeale to the knowing of it that they doe rather thrust it from them when it is offered them and when GOD seeketh them they runne from him Sith wee see such vnthankefulnesse euerywhere it is any maruell that our Lorde reuealeth not his trueth as hee would doe if men were well minded towardes it It is true that God taryeth not till wee come vnto him but rather performeth that which hee sayth by his prophet Esay Esa. 65.1 namely that hee appeareth to them that aske not after him and that hee is found of them that seeke him not insomuch that hee sayth to them that are farre off from him Lo here I am Yet notwithstanding men must not vnder this color that God reacheth them his hand and draweth them out of the dungeons of ignorance before they euer thought vppon him men I say must not flatter and fode themselues in their carelesnesse but rather wee must learne according to this text that whereas wee bee ignorant of the trueth wee must at leastwise doe our indeuer to get knowledge of it and resorte to such as wee thinke that God hath reuealed more vnto than to our selues If wee doe so and with all humilitie seeke to knowe the thinges that are auaileable to our saluation God will shewe himselfe to vs and giue vs such meanes and helpes as he knoweth to be expedient for vs. And although mortall men faile vs yet will hee so supply our want by the power of his holy spirite as wee shall not continue still in darkenesse if wee seeke y e light for he wil not shut y e dore against vs if we knock Matt. 7.7 Luâ— 11.9.10 do our indeuer to enter Thus ye see in effect what we haue to remember vppon y e text Furthermore it behoueth vs to marke that here God sheweth not the end of his commandements what is ment by them and to what vse he hath appoynted theÌ„ He doth not onely shew that the people were iustly bound to keepe the lawe that was giuen them seeing that God had bought them so dearly Here are two things The one is that inasmuch as God hath giuen vs his worde hee doth well deserue that wee should yeelde him obedience Why so Because we be his creatures and hee hath voutsafed to gather vs together vnto him to bee his people and to fight vnder his standard and hath made vs to bee of his flocke and of his Church Marke that for one poynt The other is that wee should know to what end hee hath giuen vs his Sacraments so as we haue the preceptes of his whole Lawe which pertaine to the exercising of vs in his feare and in the hope of our saluation and to what end he hath set such order among vs as wee now haue Wee must knowe what is meant by all this Neuerthelesse this briefenesse will bee darkesome if it be not declared better When wee consider how God hath created shaped vs and moreouer made vs after his owne image and giuen vs witte and reson and therewithall the hope of a better life and finally hath voutsafed to take vs as his houshold folke it sheweth vs that wee bee bound to submit our selues vnto him For seeing hee is our maker doe wee not owe him all obedience Nay there is yet more namely that in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne hee hath redeemed vs and made vs partakers of his Gospell to the ende that wee should bee guided by his hand Now then the first poynt is that when we haue knowledge it must stirre vs vp to serue God to stick to the pure religion that is comprehended in his word Howbeit this is not enough but wheÌ„ we be asked yet neerer Wherfore y e promises of y e forgiuenes of sins are giuen vs wee must answere Alas it is because we be wretched sinners we should be continually in anguish and sorrowe of minde if we knewe not that God is coÌ„tented to be mercifull vnto vs of his owne meere grace For hee cannot loue vs except we be righteous and wee shall neuer finde any holynesse in our lyfe Psal. â—â— or perfection in our vertues but it is through Gods mercie which it pleaseth him to extend towards vs. And so now yee see whereunto the promises tend Againe if it be demaunded of vs why hee hath appoynted the order of prayer as wel publique as priuate it is for that euery of vs ought to inure himselfe to seeke all his succor at his hand For wee haue not any good thing wee be destitute both of wisedome strength and righteousnesse wee bee woorse than emptie vntill our good God doe succor our needes and the meane thereof is to flee to him for refuge To that end hath hee ordeined priuate prayer And publique or common prayer is ordeined to the intent to assure vs the better that hee will here the common accorde that is among vs when wee bee come together as it were into one bodie and therewithall wee make confession of our faith exercise our charitie By this meanes then we learne why and to what end our Lorde hath set order in his Churche that is to lay what he meant to betoken thereby and to what purpose it is to be referred If a man aske vs what is meant by Baptisme and wherefore it was ordeined it is to the intent wee should know that euen from our mothers wombe wee bring nothing but all maner of vncleanesse with vs and that wee be ful of infection and filth before the Lord so as wee must be faine to bee washed or else hee will not vouchsafe to auowe vs for his Eph. 5.26.27 And wherewithall must wee be washed With the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. 1 Iohn 1.7 That then is the way to make vs cleane For as long as wee liue in Adam and in our owne nature wee can doe nothing but euill We bee so marred as there is nothing in vs but vtter rebelliousnesse against GOD. Therefore wee must enter as it were into death and into the graue Rom. 6.4 to bee renewed and our Lord must bee faine to giue vs a new vnderstanding and a new heart and he must so shape vs new againe as we may no more be the same we were before but bee as yee would say cast in a newe mould Eph. 4.23.24 and bee made new creatures as the scripture vseth to speake of it Thus ye see how wee may learne what Baptisme is what it betokeneth and to what end it was ordeyned As
born in Adam For what is our original Whence doth God draw vs when he vouchsafeth to haue vs to be of his flock Frō our mothers womb we bring nothing with vs but vtter cursednes we be heires of endlesse death wee be forlorne damned if God should iudge vs after our deserts he should needs be our enemy and aduersary and imploy all his power against vs. Now if our nature be so gracelesse frowarde that as long as it beareth sway in vs it bendeth it selfe against God must we not needs also wage battel against him Yes for looke how many lusts be in vs so many defiances are there as if our purpose were to arme him to vengeance against vs. Yet notwithstanding it hath pleased him to pull vs backe When God taketh vs so to him to be his people and of his houshold it is more than was his deliuering of the Iewes out of the thraldome of Egypt For that was but a figure of this redemption that is wrought by our Lord Iesus Christ. For his deliuering of vs is not from thraldom to some earthly mortal prince but from the gulf of hel from Satans bonds Where doth God take vs when he vouchsafeth to call vs to him to make vs feele his grace Must some messenger be faine to bring vs newes from farre Let euery of vs looke vpon himselfe and we shall finde that as in respect of our selues our state is nothing but eternal death Therefore to applie this doctrine to our vse wee must vnderstand y t when God calleth any of vs to him it is more than if hee had rid vs out of all the bondages and slaueries of this worlde yea euen of the cruellest that could bee indured Let vs know that and also let vs apply our selues aduisedly to the cōsidering of Gods works for that is the thing whereto the scripture bringeth vs to make vs perceiue the benefites that he hath bestowed vpon vs that wee may fare the better by them And it is also a way to bring vs to y e knowing of God and to prouoke vs not onely to worship him as our God and to make vs stoope vnder his glorious maiestie but also to beare him such a childly loue as to come vnto him willingly and to yeelde him such reuerence as he may accept vs and auow vs to bee his for our Lorde Iesus Christs sake Now let vs cast our selues downe before the heauenly throne of our good God acknowledging our wretched sinfulnes y t we may be wholly cast downe before him yet notwithstanding praying him to vouchsafe to admit vs in y e name of our lord Iesus Christ so as we may not be shakē off at his hand though we be worthy of it but rather y t he beare with vs of his infinite goodnes vntil he haue conueied vs quite cleane out of this world clothed vs againe with his owne righteousnes with y e perfection which he hath promised vs. And so let vs say Almighty god c. On Munday the xxiij of September 1555. The Lxxv. Sermon which is the second vpon the eleuenth Chapter 5 And what hee did for you in the wildernesse vntill yee came vnto this place 6 And what hee did to Dathan and Abyram the sonnes of Eliab the sonne of Ruben how the earth opened her throte and swallowed them vp with their householdes and Tentes and with all the substance that was vnder their feete in the middes of all Israell 7 For your eyes haue seene all the greate workes of the Lord which hee hath doone 8 Therfore keepe all the commaundementes which I commaund you this day that yee may bee strong and goe in and possesse the Land whereunto you goe to possesse it WE haue seene heretofore howe Moses hath tolde vs that such as haue bin witnesses of Gods wonders are much lesse to bee excused than such as haue but only heard y e things by report and haue not seene them with their eyes For when God hath beene so gracious vnto vs as to shewe vs his power to our faces it must needs be that we bee too blockish if wee bee not mindfull therof When our children shal but heare of it it shal becom thē to be moued at it what ought then to bee done in the very presentnesse of the things Hitherto Moses hath shewed after what manner God had delt with his people through his goodnes for he had behaued himselfe as an vtter enemie to y e Realme of Egypt to shew him selfe to be the sauiour of the linage of Abraham It is a benefite that ought to bee very highly esteemed when God chooseth vs after that sort to be his which is not for any worthines that he findeth in vs but of his owne onely goodnes in that he vouchsafeth to prefer vs before others so that although we bee no better than they yet he taketh part with vs and fighteth for vs at our neede If folke doe trouble and torment vs and God be alway ready to succour vs is it not such a bond as if we keepe it not vnbroken the verie world may condemn our malicious frowardnes Nowe after he hath spoken of the wonders that were wrought in Egypt in the passing of the red sea he telleth them briefly that they ought to consider well how God handled them in the wildernesse And vnder that speech hee comprehendeth the thing which we haue seene expounded heretofore that is to wit both y e great number of benefits which they had receiued at Gods hand and also his chastisements for both of them ought to teach vs to feare God to walk in his wayes If he do vs good it is to draw vs to him by gentlenes y t we should worship him And if he correct vs for our faults it is to meekē vs y t we may learn to beare his yoke to serue him as becommeth vs. Moses therefore comprehendeth here both twain of them As if he should say Seeing y t God hath fed you w t Manna without any trauell or labor of your own ought ye not to giue your selues al wholy to y e seruing of him If a mortal man had kept you in his house maintained you w t foode apparel should ye not be so bound vnto him as your whole life might bee answerable to such a benefite Behold God hath maintained you in y e wildernes Exod. 16.4 by sending you Manna from heauen Now then if ye shold forget such a gracious good turne what an offence were it Nay he hath not only sent you Manna but he hath also preserued your garmēts Deut. 8.4 so as thei haue not bin marred nor outworne by y e space of forty yeares together He hath shewed himself to be your guide in y e night Exod. 13.21 in giuing you a visible sign by fire he hath kept you likewise a day times from y e heate of y e sun by spreading his
haue a desire to followe it and to giue our selues ouer vnto it And that is the cause why hee sayeth that we bee drawen vnto him Iohn 6.44 And indeede Moses sayth not The Lorde will circumcise thyne heart to the ende that thou mayst bee able to loue him but hee sayth to the ende that thou loue him Hee sheweth that GOD doeth not onely giue vs the power to will well but also doeth throughly fashion vs to the same And that is a further point wherein the Papistes doe abuse themselues too grossely for when they speake of the grace of the holy Spirite they vnderstande that GOD in deede giueth vs the power if it seeme good to vs but yet that all the same lyeth in our discretion and that GODS woorking in vs is not in such sorte as that both our listing and our performing proceede both thereof But it is too nygardely a speaking of the grace of GOD that he should say vnto man Well I wil giue thee power that thou mayst doe well if thou wylt but I will lay the brydle on thy necke and when thou hast a good will and that of thy selfe if thou hast constancie and power to put it in execution thou mayest well doe it and I will helpe thee therein If GOD shoulde doe so what shoulde become of our saluation For can men in such frayltie as wee doe feele and amiddest so many combattes as Sathan doeth deliuer vs haue one onely firme and constant will It is impossible Moses therefore sayeth not that GOD will circumcise our heartes to the intent wee may haue power to feare him but hee putteth the thing in effect to the intent that wee shall feare him after which manner also hee speaketh by his Prophetes as well Ieremie as Ezechiel Ier. 31.33 Ezec. 36.26 Hee sayeth that hee will put his feare in our heartes Hee sayeth not that hee will giue them power And then will I make them sayeth hee to walke in my commaundementes This is it that GOD doeth attribute vnto himselfe to wit that hee will so imprint his Lawe in our heartes as wee shall haue a will agreeable vnto his and then hee will guide and gouerne vs in such sorte as wee shall ouercome all temptations and accomplish that which hee commaundeth vs. It belongeth not to vs then to challendge such prayse to our selues Thereby wee see that the Papistes deale treacherously in all the doctrine of freewill for all their whole seeking is to robbe GOD of all that euer the holy Scripture declareth to bee his and which hee reserueth to himselfe and to spoyle him of his honour vsurping it euerie man to himselfe Let vs therefore beware of this diuelish arrogancie and let vs vnderstande that Saint Paule hath not sayde without cause Phil. 2.13 That it is GOD that woorketh in vs both the wyll and the deede Saint Paule sayeth not after the manner of the Papistes that when God giueth vs the meane wee may bee able to will that which is good but hee sayeth that hee will put the will in vs. And then hee addeth that GOD in likewise doeth woorke the matter that is to say hee accomplisheth the good woorkes in vs and the whole is perfourmed sayeth hee after his owne will Therefore whereas the Papistes saye that GOD hath respect whether wee bee able to vse his grace well or no and that according as euerie man behaueth and gouerneth himselfe GOD dealeth with him thereafter Saint Paule sayeth that it proceedeth altogether of GODS good pleasure And yet it is not therefore to bee sayde that wee bee blockes of wood But let vs marke well what Saint Paul concludeth that is that wee must walke in feare and warinesse Phil. 2 1â— woorking our saluation What Is it in vs to doe it No but hee sheweth that wee bee instrumentes of GOD and that when hee giueth vs the wyll and power to perfourme it is bycause that euerie one of vs shoulde offer himselfe to doe his indeuour howbeit vnder the leading of the holy Spirit acknowledging that all of it proceedeth from aboue and Saint Paule sayeth that wee must doe it with feare and carefulnesse to the intent wee bee not vnprofitable and yet that in the meane while there bee not any drop of presumption in vs to suppose that wee haue any abilitie or power of our selues but that GOD bee honoured as hee deserueth Nowe wee see what is the naturall sense of this Text where Moses promiseth vnto the Iewes that GOD will circumcise their hearts Thereby hee sheweth that it is not ynough for men to haue the Lawe preached and to haue their eares beaten therewith and to vnderstande what their duetie is for all that will be but as a dead thing vntill the time that God doe chaunge their heartes and reforme them and woorke within them and that the affections of men and their thoughtes bee guided by the holy Ghost And by the way hee sheweth heere the vse of Circumcision which is another poynt worthie to bee marked For the fantasticall fellowes of our dayes which woulde take away the Baptisme of little children neuer vnderstoode the vse of Circumcision It seemed vnto them that it was but a temporall matter yea and a tryfling thing and that it was not spirituall for the auncient fathers in so much that the cursed heretike which was punished in this Towne mocked all the Sacramentes of the Lawe of Moses Abraham sayd hee had but a shadowe of the heauenly lyfe and albeit that hee was named the father of the faithfullâ— and it appeareth that hee did altogether stay himselfe vppon the celestiall heritage yet was hee not touched therewith neither dyd the fathers knowe GOD but worshipped an Angell which was there in a visible shape in steade of GOD. These bee the horrible Blasphemies which insue when men doe so separate the Lawe from the Gospell In deede wee haue at this day a grace which surpasseth that grace which GOD shewed to our fathers but yet must wee not so bereaue Abraham of the spirituall kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ as to make Circumcision to bee but an earthly Sacrament Therefore let vs beare well in minde that when GOD ordayned Circumcision besides that it was a seale of the righteousnesse of fayth as Saint Paule sayeth in the fourth Chapter to the Romanes it did also shewe vnto men that they ought to bee mortifyed and renewed by regeneration to the obedience of GOD. Whereby wee may gather that Circumcision signifyed the same thing vnto the Iewes which Baptisme importeth vnto vs at this day What haue wee in Baptisme That wee bee blessed in our Lorde Iesus Christ and that whereas wee haue nothing but accursednesse by the heritage of Adam wee be sanctifyed to bee adopted into the celestiall heritage so as God by iustifying vs doeth accept them which were not earst woorthie to bee numbred amongest his creatures Againe wee haue also a similitude and a portraiture of death that wee myght
bee nowe out of daunger for hee entred thither to the ende that wee should be free from it We adde thereunto that hee is also ascended into heauen And why To the ende that wee might knowe that the gate thereof standeth open for vs. We heare also how hee tolde his disciples In my fathers house are many mansions Iohn 14.2 signifying therby that heauen was not onely for himselfe but that it is a common heritage for all the faithfull and that hee hath taken possession thereof as it were in our behalfe Nowe then we protest in the article of our beliefe that the heauens at this time stand open for vs and that wee ought to assure our selues to come thither because our Lorde Iesus Christ our heade is gone vp thither and will not bee separated from the members of his bodie Notwithstanding that wee haue confessed this yet wee stand scanning still and are full of wauering fancies Ah say wee I know not for all that what shall become of mee I cannot tell whether God doth recken me to be one of his children who is he that hath bin in heauen who is he that hath come thence againe to bring vs newes See these diuelish blasphemies This is not onely to stande in doubt of the trueth of the Gospel but also to teare Christ Iesus in peeces asmuch as we can O horrible outrage against the sonne of God for hee that doubteth of his saluation sheweth himselfe to beleeue no whit of that which wee confesse namely that Iesus Christ hath soueraigne dominion both in heauen in earth that God gouerneth the world by him y t he maketh al creatures to kneel down to do him homage Phil. 2.10 to be short wee acknowledge not that the Lorde Iesus Christ is risen againe from the deade but to the vttermost of our power we go about to deface and to abolish the power of the holy Ghost which shewed it selfe in his resurrection See nowe in what case wee be if we receiue not the Testimonie of the Gospell to assure vs that wee bee as it were rapted vp into heauen euen to enter directly into the possession of all those goods which ly hidden from vs and are not visible as the Prophet Esay saieth Esa. 64.4 2. Cor. 2.9 such as the heart of man is not able to conceiue If wee see not an open gappe euen vnto hell to spyte Sathan to defie death and to triumph ouer all thinges that may impeach our saluation well let vs on the one side consider howe sainct Paul saieth that when wee haue receiued the Gospell through faith wee bee foorthwith set downe in the heauenly places Eph. 2.6 we bee as yee would say enthronished with the Angels of Paradise as alreadie raised vp thither by God It is true that heere beneath wee be as wretched wormes creeping vppon the grounde but when wee haue once the doctrine of faith ◠Pet. 1.3.4.5 we haue the earnest penny of our saluation according as saint Peter saieth that through faith wee may put our selues into the handes of God in such manner that lifting vp our eyes minds into heauē we be brought in thither because that Iesus Christ our heade is there before in our behalfe and hath there prepared the heritage which he will hold in cōmon with vs. Thus ye see how we must practise this point following the exhortation of S. Paul Moreouer wee must likewise marke howe hee saith that wee must beleeue with the heart to iustification and confesse with the mouth to saluation I haue heretofore shewed you briefly the substance of our faith howe it must rest wholly vppon the death and resurrection of our Lorde Iesus Christ I say vppon his death because that hee by his obedience hath put away all our iniquities and transgressions hee hath suffered the punishment that was due vnto vs to discharge vs of the same he hath also dispatched away the curse which lay vppon vs. So much concerning the first point Nowe concerning the seconde wee must vnderstande that by his rising againe he hath purchased righteousnesse vnto vs and therby shewed himselfe a conquerour ouer sinne and death and his resurrection doeth also import that hee is ascended into heauen of purpose to take the possession of that inheritance which hee will make common vnto vs and of the which hee will make vs partakers with himselfe This is the substance of our faith Nowe it behooueth to haue this faith both in our heart and in our mouth Truely it were to small purpose if wee did but talke of the graces and blessings which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath brought vnto vs as wee see a great number of bablers doe they talke much thereof but what are they the better for it sauing that it increaseth their condemnation It is no great matter then to haue the confession of faith on the tippe of the tongue before men for it must be rooted in the heart we must say I haue y e vertue of the death and resurrection of our Lorde Iesus Christ imprinted within vs and sainct Paul saieth that that serueth vs for righteousnesse And why Because wee knowe that wee bee reconciled to GOD insomuch that Christ hath taken our burden vppon him so as wee being thereof discharged are become acceptable vnto God so y t he will no more impute our sinnes vnto vs. And why For Christ should haue suffered in vain for vs if we should nowe be called to reckening for our sins Thus then wee stand acquited through the satisfaction made for vs by Christ Iesus and that is the righteousnesse whereof Sainct Paul speaketh For when wee receiue Iesus Christ it is certaine that hee reneweth vs by his holy Spirit And wee bee not onely adopted to bee the children of God by his meanes but also wee receiue therewith the warrant of our Election which is that wee bee reserued for the inheritage of God So then let vs vnderstande that there is none other meane whereby wee may attaine to righteousnesse but by beleeuing with the heart Nowe this worde Beleeuing importeth that wee shoulde seeke in Iesus Christ for that which wee want in our selues For if wee rest vppon the Lawe for as much as it commaundeth vs to doe that which wee ought to doe it is nothing woorth But if wee repaire vnto God knowing that hee is readie to releeue our wants that is the thing which is meant by the worde Beleeue according to the meaning of Sainct Paul And of a trueth when wee doe so beleeue and are so iustified the same sufficeth for our saluation For iustification doeth of it selfe import life euerlasting Neuerthelesse Sainct Paul doeth put ouer saluation to the confession doing vs to vnderstande that the children of GOD ought not to bee tongue tyed but to magnifie the goodnesse whereof they haue had triall and euerie man to edifie his neighbour as much as in him lyeth Nowe then like as wee haue our heartes set vppon God to
sheweth yet better how God hath vttered his goodnesse towards the people of Israel He found him saith he in a desert land in a desolate place in a dredful wildernes where was nothing but roring of wild beasts There he led him vp down there he nurtured him there he kept him as the apple of his eye If the people of Israel had not serued as slaues in Egypt and trauelled through the wildernesse Gods goodnesse had not bin so well knowen and so glorious as it is at this day For why Whereas God tooke Abraham out of his countrie and brought him into a strange Land and afterward gaue him a sonne when hee was vppon the point of a hundred yeres old that of that one child there issued such an infinit multitude it might well haue bin sayd that God had shewed fauor to that linage but yet so blind are men in considering Gods goodnesse towardes thē that it would neuer haue bin perceiued how God vttered his bountifulnesse towards y t stock vnlesse Iacob had gone downe into Egypt and that the people of Israell had bin kept in cruell bondage Exod. 1. as Moses reporteth in Exodus But when they had bin held in such slauery that the king of Egypt had commaunded all their men-children to be slayne then were they come to y e vttermost pinch And then did God fetch them away and make thē to passe the red sea hauing wrought a great number of miracles before By meanes whereof they were after a sort wakened that they might the better bethinke them howe dearely God loued them how much he set by them seeing he vouchsafed to yeeld so great so stately recordes of the goodnesse and fauour which he bare towardes them Moses therefore following the same reason saith here Looke backe to your first originall from whence you be issued Did God find you in a fat and fertile coūtrie as though he should say I wil maintaine you in the state wherein yee be for it is not enough for men to haue a conuenient and easie dwelling place vnlesse I preserue them and hold thē vnder my protectiō You therefore shal be mine and I will bee your safegarde Did God finde his people in such state No. And therefore Moses sayeth to the children of Israel Consider from whence ye came from whence your God hath fetched you Were ye not in a wildernesse sayeth hee Yes that then is the place from whence hee hath fetched you and so much the more ought you to consider the fauour which he hath shewed you that yee may perceiue howe much you be bounde vnto him Now then ye were in a wildernesse and after what sorte There was not one graine of Corne to feede you withall there was not one drop of water for you to drinke he was faine to make water to issue out of a dry rocke miraculously for you hee made Manna to fall from heauen Ye were in a place where yee coulde not build you one house ye were there among the wild beasts so as ye must needes haue perished and therfore a man needes not to vse long discourses to shew how God was bountiful vnto you For ye were as good as in a graue by the space of forty yeeres and yet God kept you aliue after a straunge fashion vnknowen to men Ye were destitute of foode and drinke God furnished your turne Your shooes your hose your garments did not rotte all that while Now then seeing that God maintained you after that manner against the commō order of nature did he not shew thereby what care he had of you and what loue he bare vnto you So then looke that ye neuer forget so great benefites specially being so many and so huge in number as he hath done for you Nowe we see the meaning of Moses in that hee sayeth that God founde his people in a wildernesse a dry and barraine ground a desolate place And the selfesame thing meaneth Ezechiell in his sixteenth chapter where he vpbraideth the people of Israell with the vnthankfullnesse which they had shewed 〈◊〉 16.3 What are yee sayeth hee For I tooke you comming out of the land of Egypt as a Child borne out of time The Child y t so commeth out of his mothers wombe is al to berayed and he should perish in his own filth if he were not rid of his spottes and blemishes and washed from the vncleannes which he bringeth with him To be short he rehearseth all the thinges that are wont to bee doone to a child that is newely borne Againe he vseth another similitude which is as if a man should finde a wretched harlot that were starke rotten and readie to fall in peeces by reason of her infections And I haue washed you made you cleane 〈◊〉 15.8 yea and I haue taken you in mariage and doe ye not knowe that to bee a benefite Thus we see that Ezechiell hath followed the same order which Moses did in abasing the Children of Israell by bringing them backe to their first state to the intent they shoulde learne that Gods aduancing of them after that fashion beyond al expectation of man was to the end his grace might be the better knowen in them And now to apply this doctrine to our owne instruction let vs consider what wee be before God chooseth vs. It is sayd that hee found his people in a wildernesse True it is that he had adopted them before that time insomuch that the promises were made vnto them before they went downe into Egypt But it is enough that the people were there in so miserable state to the end they shoulde perceiue that God had at that time giuen them as it were a second byrth and so dooth the scripture customably terme it But not let vs come to our selues In what case dooth God finde vs In what state dooth hee take vs We bee the children of Adam that is to say cursed and heires of euerlasting death There is nothing in vs but sin there is nothing in vs but corruption God must needes reiect vs and hate vs he must needes become our deadly enemy and vtter his vengeance vppon vs. To bee short wee be in the dungeons of hell vntill God haue reached vs his hand and had pitie vppon vs. It is not for any man to exempt him selfe from this confusion for from the greatest to the least of vs we be all plunged in it Now let vs boast of the thinges which we haue of nature For God findeth vs voyd of all goodnesse we haue not one droppe of vertue wisedome or righteousnesse but contrariwise wee be full of corruption wee bee ready to burst for filth and vncleanesse wee bee bondslaues to Satan vnder the tyranny and bondage of death and at a worde we bee plunged in hell At that poynt are wee when God chooseth vs that is the poynt whereat hee beginneth our saluation Now sith it is so let vs learne first of
vnto him that y e land was not the cheefe heritage whereunto the children of Abraham were to attaine Here therefore wee haue a sure record that although the fathers which liued vnder the Lawe had not the heauenly lyfe so lightsomly largely reuealed vnto them yet did they grounde themselues thereupon laboring to attaine therunto and were not wedded to this world as if that had bin the marke they amed at and that they had bin tyed to it to say Well God hath chosen and adopted vs to possesse a good and fatte land to the intent wee should bee fostered therein For if the people had but thought vppon that what had become of Moses who was the excellentest prophet that euer God raysed vp vntill the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ as wee shall see in the last Chapter That is the cause why Moses beheld y t land and vewed it afar off Deut. 34.10 And although hee neuer ate one graine of the corne thereof nor tasted one drop of the wine yet did it suffice him to see that God had not disappointed his people It is to bee concluded then that Moses had a further forelook and stood not musing vppon the transitorie inheritance but considered full well that when wee be made the children of God it is to the ende wee shoulde liue euerlastingly with him Seeing then that Moses had that let vs vnderstand that the fathers were not without cause called the children of God which thing they were not vnlesse they were heires with vs. And forsomuch as they tended to the heauenly lyfe which notwithstanding was shewed to them but afar off let vs take the more courage to vs seeing that God is come neerer vnto vs after a more familiar maner euen in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ. Therefore let all these things moue vs that our faith may waken vs and withdrawe vs frō all the impedimentes of this world so as we may keepe on our way to the euerlasting rest which cannot faile vs. Now whereas it is sayd vnto Moses that hee shall bee gathered vp with his people hereby our Lord meant that hee was of necessitie to passe the common way as they say of all mankinde and that his case should be no better than of all the rest of Adams children Truely this woulde trouble vs if there were no more than so But I haue spoken already of y e special promise whereuppon Moses was grounded Neuerthelesse our Lord shewed him that forasmuch as he was descended of Adams race it behooued him needes to dye And this accordeth still with the matter which I speake of euen now namely that we shal neuer take sufficient taste of Gods goodnes and promises vntil we be brought low in ourselues y t we may know our own needines and what y e lyfe is which is promised vs and which we obtein by Iesus Christ. We think not vpon any of all these thinges except we first know the death y t is purchased vnto vs by Adam that the same dwelleth in vs and holdeth vs prisoners in his bands If we knowe not that wee bee cursed of God by nature and that we haue no other hope but rottennesse as touching our bodies and that as touching our soules we be reiected of God feele that he is against vs and that he is our Iudge y t he will vtter forth all his maiestie to our confusion Vntil such time as we feele all these things it is certeine that we will neuer seeke the remedie that is offered vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ nor receiue him with such reuerence as to become lyke poore hungry soules So then we see how we haue neede of this warning that we must be gathered vp With whom With those which haue gone before vs. And without that what comfort shall wee haue Lesse than the brute beastes haue For if we thinke vpon nothing but death we goe all into rottonnes our bodies be in no better plight than the bodies of Asses and Dogges And againe as touching our soules we must needes bee separated and cut off from God and feele him to be against vs. That then is our state And therfore whensoeuer we heare any speaking of death let vs by and by bethinke vs of Adams sin of the corruption of our nature and of all the vices that dwell in vs which serue all to cut vs off as rotten members from Gods house and kingdome When wee haue bethought vs thereof and that we be so dismayed as we know not where to become for the terror that shall haue caught holde of vs let vs repaire to Iesus Christ Iohn 11.25 and sith we knowe that hee is the resurrection and the lyfe let vs take courage to offer our selues vnto death and let it not greeue vs to be done away seeing wee haue promise that we shall be restored againe And so when wee haue bethought vs of all the nations of y e world and of all Adams ofspring let vs come to the people whom God hath sanctifyed and chosen to be his heritage Seeing then that we shall be gathered vppe with the righteous surely it is a good gathering and therein lyeth all our rest cōtentation so as death shal be sweete vnto vs. And although wee must of necessitie passe that way with all other creatures yet dooth God take vs and keepe vs as his chosen children and to be ioyned to our Lord Iesus Christ who is named the first borne from among the dead And to the intent we should bee the first fruites of the resurrection and of the quicke hee hath gathered vs to himselfe and matched vs with y e holy Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles That say I is the thing which sweeteneth all the sorrowes that we can conceiue Now in the end it is sayd yet again vnto Moses That he sanctifyed not Gods name among the children of Israel and therefore hee should see the Land euen the Land which God had giuen to his people Here we haue to marke that it is not enough for vs to absteine from doing euill but that we must also sanctifie Gods name when we see men misuse it through their leawdnesse And in very deede the chiefe thing that God requireth Matt. 6. ◠is that his name should be sanctifyed for it is the first petition which we make And by that order our Lord Iesus Christ sheweth vs full well that wee must begin at that point as for example when he saith First seeke yee the kingdome of God what dooth that signify Matt. 6.33 That we should seeke to exalt God that all the world shoulde obey him and that his maiestie should be knowen to the end that all prayse of wisedome righteousnesse goodnes and power might bee attributed vnto him That is the thing whereunto euery of vs ought to put his indeuour True it is y t we ought in deede to sanctifie the name of God that is to say to dedicate our selues euery man
befell the Iewes 279. a 10.20.63 a 20 Though we dwell on earth yet wee cease not to be heires of the heauenly Inheritance looke howe 503. b 10.20 Wherein the deede of the Inheritance which God hath giuen vs is written 313. a 10 Gods word must be for an Inheritance to his Church and what we haue to gather thereupon 1191. a 60. b all Why eternall life is named an Inheritance 1118. a 10 Howe wee be in possession of the Inheritance promised to the Iewes 1143. a 10 Christes death recouered the Inheritance whereof we were dispossessed in the person of Adam 28. a 40 The Inheritaunce of Gods adopted children is certaine and infallible in heauen 28. a 10. c. What consideration we ought to haue of the Inheritance that God giueth vs. 28. a 20 It were a disanulling of Christes death and passion not to be resolued of the heauenly Inheritance 29. b 40 Impedimenteâ— and lets that hinder vs from possessing the heauenly Inheritance 30. b 10 Christ Iesus a faithfull witnesse of the inuisible Inheritance 35. a 50 Moses disappointed of possessing the promised Inheritance 48. a 60 Esau cut off from the Inheritance of the Lande of promise and why 62. a 10 The Frenchmen Italians and Almaines banished from the Inheritance of God 1191. b 50. Looke Heritage Innocent That the Innocent are not to be accused or slandered but to be maintained in their good reputation 785. b all 786. a 10.20.30 c. Of buying and selling the life of the Innocent and guiltles 936. a 60. b 10. all That such as take rewardes to hurt the Innocent are accursed 936. b 50.60 937. a 10. c. Against such as haue the face to iustifie themselues as Innocent though they be conuicted as nocent 786. a all b 10.20.30.40 Inquisition Of Inquisition to be made for murther and howe it must be made 688. b 20. 174. a 10.172 b 50 What circumstances are to be obserued in the Inquisition of an offence 547. b 20.30 The manner of Inquisition set downe for murther 174. b 60. 175. a 10.20 30.40.50.60 c. God maketh Inquisition of our sinnes before he doth punish vs. 394. a 50.60 b 10.20 That Inquisition must be made of an euill deede and why 547. a 60. b 10 20 Inquisitiue That such as are to make warres are faine to be Inquisitiue of the force and policie of their enimies why 522. b 20 We must not be Inquisitiue of y e things that are not good for vs. 522. b 10.20 30.40.50 Looke Curiositie and Secretes Instruction Instruction verie needefull in such as beare any kinde of charge or office 108. b 30.40.50.60 a 10 That the punishments of others should be our Instruction 521. a 10.20 c. No ceremonies behoouefull without instruction and whence that Instruction must come 598. b 10.20 The signification of this worde Instruction 165. a 20.30 A sacrament without â—eaching and Instruction is a dead thing 607. a 10 The chiefe Instruction of the Iewes by what meanes 1120. b 10 The worde lawe betokeneth Instruction 7. b 20 A question what Instruction there is in the report of stories 7. b 20 Instructions The people of Israell had certaine peculiar Instructions c. 347. b 10.40.1120 b 10.20 Of whome it is long that we profit not in the Instructions that God giueth vs. 357. a 10 What kinde of Instructions Gods blessinges ought to be vnto vs. 65. b 50 Intent Against such as pretende a good Intent in seruing of God 343. a 10.20 and that it deserueth death 544. b 60. 545. a b all A wicked Intent when it bewrayeth it selfe is punishable â—â—1 b 10.40 Achans Intent in stealing the forbidden things of the Chananites 345. a 10 Of the purpose and Intent of murther and howe it is to be punished 2â—1 a 60. b 10 The good Intent of the Papistes aâ—â—ed and the issue of the same 1216. b 10.20 A common prouerbe among the Papistes that what soeuer is doone of a good Intent is well doone c. 894. b 40 They are condemned which brag that they haue a good Intent in their seruing of God after their owne fashion and what wee haue to gather in that place 1035. b 10.20 Intents Whereunto our good Intents doe serue vs. 188. a 10 Wee must not pretende our good Intentes to iustifie our owne inuentions 188. a 50 God condemneth wicked Intents and euill lustes 244. a 10.30 All wicked Intents vtterly forbidden by God 242. a 30.40 Why God after hee had condemned wicked Intents proceedeth to the condemning of euill lustes too 244 a 30.40 c. That if we will direct our life aright we must not followe our owne good Intents what then 517. b 20.30.506 a 10 Fonde Intents to serue God reprooued 490. b 30 The value of good Intents purposed to be shewed 110. b 30 Interim The hellish corruption of the Interim returned againe 109. a 10 Intercession Why Moses ceased not to make Intercession for the Iewes when God had expresly forbidden him so to do 397. b 10.20.30.40.50.60 397. a all Howe the worlde hath been abused by making Intercession to saintes and howe that doctrine is ill gathered 396. a 60. b 10 Intercessors A text alleadged by the papistes for the maintaining of their doctrine of hauing saintes to be their Intercessors 417. a 50.60 b 10. Looke Aduocate and Mediator Inuention The cause why in poperie euerie man hath cast to a collup of his owne Inuention 261. b 50.60 Looke Fansie Imagination and Deuise Inuentions Against the Inuentions of men that they ought to be restrained Read sermon 127. page 781. a 10.20 c. The itching of the Iewes to intermingle some Inuentions of their owne with Gods lawe 114. a 20 All Inuentions of men mingled with Gods seruice condemned 908. a 30.40.50 b all 300. b 20.30 The sufficiencie of Gods law proued against all the Inuentions of men 261 b 50.60 262. a 10 What we must do to discerne that ther is nothing but vanitie in all worldly Inuentions and deuises 123. a 40. The Inuentions of the Papistes which they terme Gods seruice 436. a 10 Against such as turne after their owne Inuentions deuises 267. a 10.20.30.40 Looke Fansies Deuises and Imaginations Inuocation The cause why Iacob a litle before his death saied Let my name be called vpon ouer Ephraim and Manasses 417. a 10.20.30 This concerneth Inuocation Looke Call and Call vpon Ioseph The Tribe of Ioseph made two tribes 496. b 10. Peculiar blessings giuen to the same 1211. b all He represented two chiefe houses in the linage of Iacob 1211. b 50.60 How traiterously he was handled by his brethren how God saued him 1212. b 60.1213 a 10. A double portion giuen to him by Iacob and why 1211. b 40. How he was a Nazarite among his brethren 1212. all How hee was the crowne of his brethren the scepter royal being in the tribe of Iuda 1212 a